Did you have a nice Holiday Weekend?!  I hope so…

RECEIPTS FOR THE AUGUST BUCKET FUND

The Horse and Man Group was wonderful in donating $567 to BHFER, our Bucket Fund equine charity for August!  The money came in several ways so I had a few different kinds of Pay Pal receipts.

OUR “THANK YOU” FROM BHFER

We received two thank-you’s from BHFER.  The first is from Jenny who does some of their PR work and the second is from Theresa.  I wanted you all to share in their Thank-You’s since you donated the money!

1) From Jenny:

Words can not express how eternally grateful we are for your kindness in nominating the “Bucket Fund” of August to benefit Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue.

The lives of those who call us home , their present and their futures , depend not only Theresa and all her volunteers but in the loving hearts of so many…they depend on individuals like you who are willing to speak for them and help make a difference.

Beauty’s Haven is a family, family united by love and compassion. Thank you for being part of this beautiful family that I call my second home.

May you have a wonderful day;

Jenny

2)  From Theresa

Thank you SO very much!  This was truly, truly a blessing!  I can’t tell you how much this helps – the vet and
feed bills increased dramatically after the Naples horses arrived.  We bought 2 needed tons of hay today – I can’t tell you how nice
(and comforting) it is to see the hay stall full of hay!  We’ve been buying it by the bale but it’s a better price by the ton.

Again, thanks so much!!!

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
www.beautysequinerescue.org

REVERSE LOAD TRAILERS!

You don’t hear much about reverse load trailers here in the US.  They are much more popular in the UK.  However, there are several trailer companies that do offer this feature.  If you Google “reverse load horse trailers”, several companies will come up.

WHAT IS REVERSE LOAD?

Reverse load is where the horses either ride straight or slanted in the opposite direction of what we Americans usually see.  For example, if you have a straight load, the horses would ride with their faces towards the rear of the trailer instead of the front.  If you have a slant load, the same thing.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

How they work?  The horse loads on a ramp at the side towards the front of the trailer.  Usually the ramp has three doors so the ramp itself isn’t too long or too heavy.  Then the horse is tied or slotted facing the rear of the trailer.  When it is time to let them out, (on a straight reverse load) you drop the butt bars which are now neck bars, and let them out the rear of the trailer which has double doors.  Or, on a slant reverse load, you have the option of taking them back out the ramp, or depending upon the configuration, bringing them straight out the back.  So, no backing your horses.

THE BENEFIT

There are many thoughts here.

First, there have been a few studies where the general consensus was that horses, if left to their own devices, would ride facing backwards.  The studies showed that loose horses do this if given a chance on a long haul.  What most suspect is that the braking pattern is easier to handle when the rear end of the horse is taking all of the impact.  The rear leg and haunch muscles are more set up for stopping and carrying that stopping weight.  So, the horse naturally points his strong end in the direction of the motion.

Another study suggested that horses are less tired and less likely to become ill from stress when they ship in the reverse position.

Some studies suggested that the horses feel less stress if they are not facing oncoming traffic.

For some, the reverse load is much more safe because they can just walk the horse on and walk the horse off – no more turning around in cramped trailers.  And, no more fighting with horses who will not back out of a trailer or become nervous to back.

WHAT DOUBTERS SAY

The people who don’t like the reverse load trailers say that horses ride however they have been trained to ride.   They also say that oncoming traffic doesn’t mean anything to a horse and that ramps are more dangerous than not having ramps.

MY RETORTS

For my two cents, first off, nothing is better than a good driver.  So, having said that, I am now saying all the rest assuming that we are speaking about good trailer drivers who anticipate the rough spots for their cargo.

I’m really thinking on this one…  Just because a type of trailer isn’t popular doesn’t automatically make it not good.  Especially since it is very popular in the UK.  And, I know for a fact, that my horses ALL will turn around in the trailer if given that freedom.  I have trailered Sam (wild mare – trailered only once before) and her newborn filly, for 5 hours in my heavily bedded trailer with the divider removed.   She was not tied.   I stopped often to check on her and I saw them laying down, facing forwards and backwards.  Mostly, she rode diagonally backwards.  At the end of the trip, she was totally fine, not sweaty and not upset.

My other horses, if given the opportunity to ride free in a trailer, will stand splay-legged in reverse.

To top off my surmises, I know that when I am paying top dollar for my show horses to ride across country, the best way for them to arrive refreshed is to put them, untied,  in a heavily bedded box stall.  This would be the same as riding untied in an open 2-horse without a divider.  In this way, they can decide how they want to ride… and they can lay down whenever they want.

So, if my show horses are well rested after a two day journey riding in a box stall, then I think that is probably the best way.  After all, show horses do have some of the most luxurious trailers available.  And, it is never questioned when half of the large shipping trailers have open box stalls or dividers in reverse.  And, I also have noticed that most of the reverse load trailers are high-end trailers.  Hmmmmmmm.  What do those fancy trailer people know?…  I’m guessing that they too have learned that their horses arrive more rested at the final destinations when they ride reversed.

But, most of us are regular folks who just want to trailer one or more horses in our basic trailer.   So I’d like to think of the best way to fit them so we humans are economically sound and the horses are most definitely ergonomically sound.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE ABOUT REVERSE LOADS ARE DESIGN PREFERENCES

Well, in my opinion, the American market hasn’t demanded enough of these reverse load trailers for the trailer makers to think up all the important details that they would if this was a more popular item.  I’m not saying that reverse loads aren’t a good idea, I’m just suggesting that they might want to offer more options for these models.

So far, the designs are mostly for more than 3-horse loads.  I would love to see a really nice 2-horse…  But, my main beef are the configurations.  I want more choices.  I want removable dividers with the tack room up front, not in the back.  I know that the idea is to have a ramp in the middle so the horses walk on and face backwards, but that necessary design messes up the tack room, I think.  Or something… I’m not sure what is up with the tack room on these reverse loads but I didn’t see placement that I liked, yet, on a smaller model.

I also am not sold on ramps.  I have seen several accidents.  So, I don’t think I would want a ramp.

Also, I want to be able to see my horses noses through the open window (with bars or screens, of course) on my driver side window.  So, I want to have their reversed noses on my side.  Many of the reverse loads have the windows on the passenger side.

Straight reverse load... not sure about this one but better than straight load.

WHAT I WOULD PURCHASE

I think, knowing what I know now, I would purchase a stock trailer with removable reverse load dividers so that I could give my horses the most options.  (The only thing I don’t like about this is I would prefer windows to panels…).   I would choose a stock trailer first because they have more interior room for the horses.

I would probably do a couple of experiments with my horses.  I think I would put the dividers in for shorter rides, even if I had only one horse.  Part of me wonders if the dividers would help the single horse brace better because he could lean against it during shorter rides… So, the jury is still out on that part.  But for longer rides, I’d probably take out the dividers on a single horse and let him do whatever he feels like doing – as long as it was bedded deeply.  I think laying down and getting up would be easier with a deep bed.

If I had two horses, I’d use the reverse dividers.

I actually wish I had one…  I’d love to experiment in all the configurations!

Since I love my 4-Star, I'd probably like this reverse load...click here.

IN CONCLUSION

I think I’m a convert to reverse load trailers.  I think I would like some design changes, but overall, I like it.  It makes sense to me.

And, if you were taught to drive a trailer like I was taught — riding in the horse part of the trailer while someone else drove — you’d probably want to experiment and do the best for your horse as well.  Once you’ve ridden in the back part, you have a whole other understanding of what your horse has to put up with while trailering.  If you haven’t been made to stand back there while someone else is driving, you should try it…  ;)   I think it would all become clear.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The September Bucket Fund will benefit Grace, the skinniest horse still alive.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate to this incredible horse,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

September's Bucket Fund is the Amazing Grace, the skinniest horse still alive. Click here to learn her story and make any size, secure Pay Pal Donation. Easy and it means so much!

It is Labor Day and many of you are enjoying yourselves out on the boat.  Or, at least I have seen many, many boats being trailered up past my house on the way to Lake Tahoe…

Anyway, for some reason, I am the lucky recipient of the WEST MARINE catalog, even though Hubby and I don’t own a boat…  The catalog is huge (bigger than Sears) and it specializes in anything for your boat or boating in general.

Now, a few months ago, I happened to be in a boating store and discovered a three-step

The very inexpensive 3-step from the Marine Store.

for a lot less than what they cost in any equestrian catalog.  In fact, I found several things that crossed over very nicely.  When I received the West Marine catalog in the mail, I decided to walk through it and see whatever other aquatic/horsey jewels I could find.

So, on Labor Day when many of you are boating, the rest of us will peruse the catalog and find interesting cross-over horsey gear!

CATALOG FINDS

1)  Oregon 550 and 550t Handheld GPS Navigators/ Dakota 10 Handheld GPS

Now, what trail rider, endurance rider or cross country fan wouldn’t want a personal GPS?  The great thing about these is that they have a camera as well as a tilt compensated compass built-in!  It also has TopoMaps that help you pick the right terrain and determine rider suitability.  They say this works in canyons and also deep cover.  Wow!

The Dakota 10 is waterproof, palm-sized and sunlight readable. Wahoo!  I like this one.

Both models have lots of extras and are perfect for the rider.  And, the SCORE here is that both of these models from West Marine were less expensive than the same models at REI!

2)  RITCHIESPORT X-10 Compass

This is very cool because it will mount on your saddle.   Or it is small enough to put into your pack and bring out when you need it.

I think a compass would be a great item if you don’t have a GPS and you like to ride in different places often.  I mean, usually, you’ll get a compass that comes with your caribiner clip or maybe you get a flimsy one on your keychain.  But, you rarely get a real compass that would survive a day of riding.  So, I think the massive assortment of compasses in this catalog should give you many options for a tremendously capable compass in a variety of shapes and sizes!

3)  Mega Braid Nylon Line

This nylon line can take 55,000 lbs of pressure!  I’m guessing most horses couldn’t break this or nibble through it!  So, if you are looking for strong lead lines, halter ropes, lounge lines, cross ties or any other type of rope, this would really hold up!

Of course, I know that many of you would rather use cotton for lead ropes and halters.  But, if you are not against nylon, they have every color imaginable in just about every weight you could want.  So, why not?

I see huge spools of this rope at almost every large Horse Expo.  So, I think we are onto something here.  And, it is less expensive in this catalog marine catalog…

4)  Folding Solar Chargers

These are too cool!  You can charge your phone, GPS, laptop, lights, fence wire… or a multitude of other applications yet they fold up for easy traveling.  And, they have larger versions as well so you can take a hot shower on the trail or power large lights.  So, if you are missing out on something on the trail or in the barn because you don’t have power, check these out.  There is a huge selection with multiple aquatic uses that could transfer onto land easily!

5)  Horse Toys!  (Or, boat fenders…)

OMG!   Here is a huge assortment of all shapes and sizes of horse toys boat fenders.  They come in many shapes, sizes and weights!  You can pick one for your brute’s stall as well as one for your dainty little lass…  And, the round kind would be great in a pasture hanging from a tree!   I’m sure you could think of many uses for these things (even as bumpers in your trailer…).

If you consider that these fenders are meant to withstand a huge boat crashing against a stationary dock, I think they could withstand the jaws or feet of your mount.  Also, they come with a guarantee.   It says they are guaranteed for the life of your boat against splitting or bursting!  Ah ha!  I’d like to see a comparable horse product!

6)  Sport/Dive Ladder (or Hay Barn Ladder…)

I see this item wall mounted in my hay barn.  It would be so much easier than climbing the rickety barn bales to kick the top bale off!  I swear, there is nothing more finger slicing than trying to open a regular ladder in the hay barn.  Oy.  It always slams shut on something you didn’t see … or it is all wonky on the uneven ground and you hurt yourself more by using it than not.

So, why not mount this handy little item on your hay barn wall?!  It takes less space than a regular ladder and is much more safe.

I think you could mount a few of them on top of each other to make a taller version.  The treads are non-slip and you can easily detach these if you need to put them anywhere else (like on the side of your trailer to climb up to the roof).

7)  Admiral Series Telescoping Handles  (Cobweb getter!)

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of using my broom to reach the webs and then getting mouthfuls of yuk as I do my work…

With this handydandy little item, you can attach any kind of end (there are many available) and telescope the useful part waaaaaay up there.  Then you, and your closed mouth,  can stand very clear as you clean up the far reaches of your barn.

And, it is “aircraft” grade so it isn’t wimpy.  If someone left it where a horse could step on it, I think the telescoping handle would be A-OK!

8)  Surge Multi-Tool!

OK, there are a zillion multi-tools in this catalog that can do just about everything except shoe your horse!  I could have picked any number of them for this report but I decided on the Surge Multi-Tool because it has wire cutters, eyeglasses screwdrivers and an awl with threader (for leather mishaps), among other things.  I think the boating people are so much more inventive with their Leathermans than equestrians!  I mean, these are far superior to the Leatherman’s of my glove compartment!  These are the Leatherman’s of the future!  And, the future of my daypack, for sure!  Here is a list of what this particular model can do!

• Large and small bit drivers include double-ended bits
• 4 outside-opening blades
• Leatherman’s strongest scissors yet
• Stainless Steel
• All-Locking Blades
• Needlenose Pliers
• Regular Pliers
• Wire Cutters
• Hard-Wire Cutters
• Stranded-Wire Cutters
• Electrical Crimper
• Clip-Point Knife
• Serrated Knife
• Scissors. Blade Exchanger
• Diamond File Blade
• Wood File Blade
• Saw Blade
• Large Bit Driver
• Small Bit Driver
• 5/16″ Screwdriver
• Awl w/Thread Loop
• Ruler (9 inches/22 cm)
• Bottle/Can Opener
• Wire Stripper
• Lanyard Ring
• Two Double-Ended Bit

9)  REMIX Headlamp

Now who of us doesn’t have to affix a headlamp to your head at least once a day during the winter months?!  I sure do!  I use them so much during winter that sometimes I forget to take the off!  My horses probably think I grew a very bright, third eye or something.

Anyway, I love these things and am always looking for the perfect fit, the lightest weight and the easiest to add batteries.

This one seems to do all of those things, however, if you prefer others, there are many in this catalog (along with any other kind of light you could imagine…).  I love that this headlamp has an easy opening battery compartment.  I also LOVE the over-sized on/off button.  I cannot tell you how often I fumble to find the dang button or I accidentally switch it to the evil strobe!

10)  Last but not least…  COOLER SWINGBACK CHAIR WITH BACKREST!

Can’t you just see this in your truck bed?  OK, maybe it is kinda whitetrashy but I think it is a great idea for horse camping or tailgating or maybe just when you are having lunch on a long ride…   The best part is that it fits a regular sized cooler inside of it.  So, you can fill your cooler at home and just set it inside this cooler!  Or, use it as dry storage.

I would put this in the bed of my truck with the back part against the cab window.  I’d fill the chest with a faboo picnic lunch and then sit on the lovely cushioned (with backrest) chair in the shade under a tree.  Ahhhhh.

And, if this one wasn’t up to your fancy, there are many, many more styles and sizes!

IN CONCLUSION

OK, that concludes our initial trip through the West Marine catalog!  I tore out so many different items, I’ll have to have a Phase 2 on this topic later.

I sure hope you are all having a wonderful and safe LABOR DAY!

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The September Bucket Fund will benefit Grace, the skinniest horse still alive.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate to this incredible horse,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

September's Bucket Fund is the Amazing Grace, the skinniest horse still alive. Click here to learn her story and make any size, secure Pay Pal Donation. Easy and it means so much!

So today, Let’s have some fun!

I decided to get into the Holiday Spirit by revealing my new found secret… Shiva, Hubby’s dog, is a photobomber!  Do you know what I mean?  Have you heard the term “photobombing”?

Hubby's dog, Shiva

PHOTOBOMBING

Photobombing became a popular term recently when this photo below appeared on the internet.

Now, if one was to forget that they have ever heard of Photoshop, they might believe that this squirrel really did just happen to appear in this family photo.

The one that started it all... the photobombing squirrel

But, pretty much we all know that camera trickery is very easy via the computer… but most of us suspend disbelief because it is fun to just go with it, right?!   And actually, photobombing does happen by accident.  Many vacation photos have been ruined by what the unsuspecting foreground people didn’t know was happening in the background…  And, sometimes it is really funny…

ANIMAL PHOTOBOMBING

Then people started to mock-up animal photobombs.  I like those a lot!  Of course, the real animal photobombs are the cherry on top, but since there are few of those, these mock-ups keep me happy.  Here are two of my favs.

This one is my all-time favorite!

This is Hubby's all-time favorite!

HUBBY’S DOG, SHIVA

Now, back to Hubby’s dog, Shiva.  Shiva has a girl’s name but he is a boy.  Hubby is very learned and he happens to know that the God Shiva was a male.  And, the God Shiva was the God of destruction, so he felt that was a fitting title for his dog.  I don’t.  Shiva doesn’t destroy much unless we leave the garbage can lid off.  Otherwise, he is pretty sweet.

This is classic Shiva. He is sitting next to Hubby.

In fact, he is so sweet that he has given himself the job of accompanying me outside whenever I go.  Shiva can be in a sound sleep, but if he hears me go for the front door, he’ll jump up, stumble over and ask to go wherever I am going.  I find this adorable.  No matter what, where, when or how, he wants to go outside with me.  This duty is so important to him that he will pop up and scamper over even if I am just going to the laundry room or any other location within 20 square feet of the front door.  He gets faked-out probably 60% of the time.  Yet, he keeps on jumping into duty if I go anywhere in the vicinity of ‘outside’.  Cute cute.

He even lets me do this to him...

NATURALLY…

So, naturally, he goes outside with me whenever I am taking photos of the horses for this blog.  In fact, often I have to put him inside because he gets in the way…  And, as much as I love him, the horses don’t have the same sentiment.  He is kinda frenetic and his collar jingles.  They don’t like that.  In fact, he gets chased out of pastures more than he doesn’t.  Good thing he is a fast little bugger!  He can tucknrun like a rabbit!

SHIVA THE PHOTOBOMBER

OK, well, back to the photobombing thing.  You see, often I will have taken photos for my blog and it won’t be until I come back inside, go upstairs to download them that I will notice Shiva is in the photos I need to use.  Aaargh!  So, I have to lock him up and go back out and take the photos again.  He just slips in there and I don’t even notice!  He’s right there.  Right there. RIGHT IN THE LENS!

YESTERDAY

This is the photo that got me thinking yesterday. He is staring right at me and I never noticed him AT ALL!

Yesterday was the day the photobombing thing really clicked for me.  I saw this photo and gasped that I didn’t even realize he was staring right at me when I took the photo.  I had already cleaned everything up everythink that was in the photo before I went to my computer to write the story; so I had to use it since I couldn’t go back and recreate that image.  And, I laughed.  I laughed to myself and finally decided to see how many times he has photobombed my blog pictures.

I WONDER WHY

I wonder why he photobombs me all the time…?  Does he have any idea what I’m doing.  Probably not.  But, I surmise that when I walk outside with that thing in my hand, I usually go to the horses.  And, I think he gets protective and jealous.  I think he feels his job is to protect me.  So, he goes with me.   If I’m snapping photos and all looks OK, he gets absorbed in some other activity and trots about – always circling back to make sure I am safe.  In doing so, I forget about him.  But, he’s always there…   I also think he wants some of whatever I am giving to the horses.  So, if I’m taking pictures of them, he wants that love, too.

HERE THEY ARE

I have tons of pics where he is halfway in or halfway out of the shot.  I have many where he’s a blur.  I have a few where he is so far back in the photo that you wouldn’t be able to see him but I know he’s there…  So, I culled my massive library of photos and here are a few of his classic photobombs.  Do you have a dog like this?

Never far behind...

This photo was of my fallen hay pile, plus you know who...

I took this for my blog on shelters...

This one was about my great find at the Marine store...

This blog was about what to do with all the baling twine...

This one was just last week about broken and mended fences...

Here he is helping me discover the mess...

This post was about Remi, the mustang mare...

This one was about my favorite fly mask. You might wonder where Shiva is...

He's right there! As always...

I could go on all day but that would ruin you holiday, so this concludes my Shiva as photobomber (or maybe “Where’s Waldo?” is more appropriate…) journal. I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday weekend!

JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT! – I’ve added my fav pics of Shiva…

Shiva goes to work with Dad...

My little protector... like Father like Son.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

The September Bucket Fund will benefit Grace, the skinniest horse still alive.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate to this incredible horse,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

September's Bucket Fund is the Amazing Grace, the skinniest horse still alive. Click here to learn her story and make any size, secure Pay Pal Donation. Easy and it means so much!

1)  Without further suspense, here is the amazing dog doing the marenge!

Click on image to watch video of her dancing up a storm!

2)  I got this off of MSNBC.   I guess the last day of this pool’s use goes to the dogs… then they clean it and close it for the year.  Good Idea!

3)  This duck fighting the penguin is so funny! (No one was hurt…)

4)  Lastly, there is something about zebra patooteys that makes me smile!

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

September's Bucket Fund is the Amazing Grace, the skinniest horse still alive. Click here to learn her story and make any size, secure Pay Pal Donation. Easy and it means so much!

The September Bucket Fund will benefit Grace, the skinniest horse still alive.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate to this incredible horse,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

What happened yesterday morning could have been a huge disaster.  Huge.  Someone was looking after me and my two youngest…

Remember these guys?  I wrote about them a while ago.  As you can see, VB (Violet Beauregard, very busy gum chewing Icy filly) and Wrigley (Morgan 2 year old who stands a skinny 15’1…) are the two who get into trouble when there is no trouble to be had.  If it is out there, they will step in it, trip over it, break it, eat it or destroy it.

Here is VB with a bucket stuck on her foot... typical.

Here is Wrigley, about to smack himself in the kisser with the rake... typical.

Well,  I had them locked in the barn.  Not really locked…  but they were in the barn with both end gates shut so that they could mosey around and eat all the hay that is on the ground from the recent hay delivery.  I was using them as horsey Hoovers.  I wanted the aisleway clean.  So, I closed all the stalls, the hay room door, the tack/feed room door and left them to do their job.

Or so I thought…

HERE IS WHAT I SAW

I walked to the barn for the evening feed.  I knew I had to put these two Hooligans back out but that is easy.  I just open the other side of the barn and out they go!  So, I was relaxed and happy as I approached.

This doesn't look quite right...

But, something looked askew.  The place was a mess!

Now, I still wasn’t alarmed because they can make messes, as we’ve seen before…  But as I got to the barn, I didn’t see any horses, especially a little Icy and a huge Morgan baby gelding.  Wha?  Where could two, largish horses hide in a very open barn?  The stall doors were shut.  Check.  The feed room door was closed.  Check.  The hay barn door was closed. Check.  Both barn gates were closed.  Check.  Where could they be?   I even opened the hay barn slider, thinking they had worked it open.  Nope.  Nothing.  Where the heck were they?

UH OH

Let me first say, this is happening in a matter of moments.  I’m gathering my thoughts as I look around but it is all happening in a surreal way.  I’m not panicked or rushed.  I’m just trying to figure out where 1600 lbs of horseflesh has gone.  The severity of the situation hadn’t hit me yet.

Then I started to note the items strewn about.  Uh Oh.  It was beginning to dawn on me…  The pellet bag, that was in the tack/feed room, is out here.  Weird.  Oh, and the alfalfa cube bag is out here, too.  Both are empty.

Waitaminute... That bag belongs INSIDE the feed room...

And then the biggest clue of all…  The box fan which was in the tack/feed room on the counter so it could cool me when I was preparing the dogs’ food, was smashed and laying outside the closed feed room door.  But, the most telling sign?…  The cord was inside the feed room.  Uh oh.  Double uh oh.

Uh Oh. I know the fan was inside the feed room... and why is the cord still inside?

THE TACK/FEED ROOM

The tack/feed room is a very small room that I cram all my extra tack, seasonal barn stuff and feed.  There is also a refrigerator and a three rung saddle rack.  Let’s just say that there isn’t much room in there.  In fact, if I am in there, my Mastiff won’t even try to enter.  If he is in there alone, he has to back up to turn around.  He weighs 185lbs.  These horses are bigger.  Much, much bigger.

PANIC

OK, now I’m panicked as I realize that the are both in the tiny tack/feed room.  OH MY GOD.  I immediately try to push open the tack room door.  I couldn’t.  I hear a shuffle inside (Smart horsies – the Icy is studying at Wyotech to be a deconstruction engineer…) and I know that VB is making room for the door to open.  She may be a disaster creator, but she is one smart cookie.  I try again and I can open the door about wedged size.

INSIDE

OMG.  Inside I saw two huge horse butts and a very, very full room.  Everything was everywhere.  And, it smelled like a horse locker room.  They had been sweating in there for probably at least an hour.  I will always remember the smell of no air and horse confusion/sweat.

I did have the window open in there, but it is still a very warm room.  The temperature yesterday was 95 and here were two horses inside a very small, packed with stuff room.

VB

Somehow, she knew the danger in this… She listened to me as I told her to NO!  DO NOT RUSH THE DOOR!  There was no way she could have gotten out but she could have easily wrenched her neck between the opening of the door and the counter top.

She stood there, with her butt facing me, wanting so badly to jump out that door…   I pushed her away from the door and against Wrigley as far as I could.  Wrigley practically balanced on top of a plastic crate as I did this, his head pushed between two of the bars on the empty (thank God) saddlerack.

As I pushed VB back, I could just manage to open the door all the way.  This gave a clear opening of about 24″ since the counter was in the way.  I have no idea how she managed to turn around because it happened in a flash!  That girl wanted OUT.  I think she folded herself in half.  I don’t know but in a moment she was coming out the door, head first.  Wrigley followed immediately after.

The aftermath...

They both stood in the cool aisleway kinda stunned, looking at me.  I barked at them and told them how BAD they were and what MISCHIEVOUS horses they were and how LUCKY both of them were and how AWFUL mommy would have felt if something went wrong.  Both of their chests were full of sweat (hence the smell…) and they stood rock still.  Then, their eyes softened…

“Hey, it’s all good.  We’re fine.  When’s dinner?”

All the cans opened, all bridles off hooks and mayhem strewn about.

BUMS RUSH

I put them back into their pasture, rather abruptly and not very softy I might add…  Then, I went back into the room to inspect the damage.  OMG, again.  But, this time I started laughing.  Now that it was over and everyone was safe, it was really pretty funny.  I went to the house and got my camera to record the aftermath.

FUNNY

I started to just chortle at the whole thing!  I cannot imagine the conversation inside the room…

VB:  Hey, lookey, I got the door open!

W:  Huh?

VB:  I’m goin’ in!

W:  Where?

VB:  Ohhhhh, look at all this!!  I’m going to eat everything!  I’ll start with these cookies and … (wipe off the entire contents of the counter with her head)

W:  What?

VB:  Hey, I got the pellet bag… I’ll bring it out.

W:  OK

VB:  Hey, I got the alfalfa cube bag…  I’ll bring it out.

W:  OK

VB:  Ooooooooooh, I think I can get this trash can opened but I have to put some weight into it… Hey, C’mere.

W:  You want me inside there?

VB:  Now!  Help me open this!

W:  OK (Wrigley pushes his way in and tries to turn around and his huge butt wipes out everything on the counter and water heater including the fan which ends up outside the door.  He gets his nose caught in the speaker wire.)

VB:  Now come up here and …

W:  (they tussle for position and the door slams shut)  What was that noise?

VB:  Crap.

W:  What?

VB:  The door shut.

W:  Oh, OK.

VB:  No, not OK you big oaf!  Now we’re trapped in here.

W:  Great!  Food everywhere!

VB:  Wrong.  It’s all dog food.  I checked.

W:  We can sing camp songs…

VB:  Quit breathing and sucking up all the air… Gawd you stink.

W:  When do you think she will come?

VB:  When she always comes.  MOVE OVER!

CLEAN UP

Upon clean up, I noticed several things.

First, no poop.  Yeah!

Second, they smashed everything.  I cannot even imagine the mashup that was going on once they were trapped!

Nothing was permanently broken and everything kinda went back to normal.  I was even able to pull the cage back out on the fan and it was humming along as I was sweeping.

Unfortunately, the dogs will have hay in their food.  I swept up the dog food and put it back in the cans, but there were some errant leafs of hay.  Ptooey!

Thank God the stereo stayed up there, the shelf came down, the counter is cleared, wires pulled...

ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL

And, everyone was still fine this morning…  I feel very lucky that most of my pellets and alfalfa cubes were already gone; the bags were mostly empty. I was so happy that I hadn’t just made a trip to the feed store.  I was lucky there were no chemicals in my feed room.  I am really, really lucky that there were no sharp things.  I’m incredibly lucky that I had just sold all the saddles I no longer use which were on that rack.  I cannot imagine the confusion and panic it would have caused once they had managed to disrupt all those saddles.  I’m lucky that they have both been trailered enough to understand cramped quarters.

Of course the horse cookie bag is empty...

And, most of all, in a twist of fate, I’m lucky that they get themselves into binds all the time.  I guess I’m lucky that these two Laurel and Hardy, Perils of Pauline Chuckleheads are constantly in a pickle.  If they didn’t spend half of their lives waiting for me to fix whatever they had just gotten themselves into, they might have panicked.  But, they didn’t.  They just waited.

Straightened but not cleaned... you can see the very small area.

IN CONCLUSION

I dodged what could have been a horrible outcome on this day.  I am incredibly thankful to the horsey gods for perhaps looking after my bad door closing skills and my two Knumbskulls.  I am also very grateful that my not shutting the door properly didn’t leave me in a world of regret.

Back to normal... I am so, so lucky.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The September Bucket Fund will benefit Grace, the skinniest horse still alive.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate to this incredible horse,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

September's Bucket Fund is the Amazing Grace, the skinniest horse still alive. Click here to learn her story and make any size, secure Pay Pal Donation. Easy and it means so much!

]]> http://horseandman.com/horse-stories/worse-than-running-with-scissors-i-am-soooo-lucky/feed/ 3 http://horseandman.com/horse-stories/worse-than-running-with-scissors-i-am-soooo-lucky/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Horseandmancom/~3/vXngqbsVp1c/ http://horseandman.com/bucket-fund-stories/grace-is-amazing-she-has-survived-the-last-two-weeks-grace-is-our-september-bucket-fund-charity/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:23 +0000 dawndi http://horseandman.com/?p=6148 This is Amazing Grace, a very emaciated mare who was rescued 20 days ago by Strawberry Mountain Mustangs.

I pledged that we would make Grace our Bucket Fund Girl if she survived the first two weeks which were critical according to her vet.

And do you know what… Amazing Grace, the horse with hardly any chance of survival, DID IT!  She did it!

How can we NOT reward such a huge spirit?  How can we not get caught up in the emotion and help a horse who won’t give up?  This horse should be dead… yet her tremendously strong will to live keeps her going…  She did it!  She held on until help arrived and then she pushed through the pain to hang onto life.  After all she has been through, let’s pull together and make the rest of her days full of the fruits of her horsey efforts.

I’m thrilled to call Grace our September Bucket Fund Baby! She is a testament to all the horses out there who have been neglected.  She is choosing to fight back to health and we’re gonna help her!  Let’s start today!

Here is our original story on Grace…, in case you missed it.

HER STORY

Grace was reported to Animal Control in Oregon.  Luckily, Animal Control went right out there and seized her immediately.  She didn’t have any time to spare…

AC called Darla from Strawberry Mountain Mustangs.  They told her they had a horse that was on its way to the Equine Hospital, but most likely she would be put down.  Buuuuuut, if she wasn’t put down, they wanted Darla to take her and rehab her.  Darla said, YES!

Well, the vet at the equine hospital said that this mare was so skinny that she physical state could not be measured.  She was below the lowest grade on the Henneke Scale.  However, he also said that she was incredibly alert and she had a huge will to survive.  If her blood work indicated that her organs were not compromised, they would release her to Darla.

Lo and behold, her organs were OK!  OMG.  How could that be?  She looks worse than any horse we’ve ever seen, yet she is in better shape on the inside than many in better condition.

Darla said she had never, ever seen such a skeletal horse.  It was tough to believe that Grace was alive in there.  But, she was.  And, she wanted to live.  So, Darla fed her, bathed her, trimmed her and loved her for 20 days…(so far).  And, this girl is fighting to live.  She is fighting to make it.

RE-FEEDING

Darla is loving the UC DAVIS  Center for Equine Health re-feeding program.  It worked with two of her other horses who were starved and are now 30 and 40 years old respectively.  And, it is working with Grace…

Grace after her bath

Since our first story two weeks ago, I have heard that Grace is a little pistol!  She follows Darla all around.  They say she runs the fence line whenever a car goes up or down the driveway.  Darla laughs when she says that Grace is even a little “pushy” at times… Ha!

“She wants to walk fast when I lead her, and she trots behind me for food!”

After 20 days!

THE THING THAT KILLS YOU TO THINK ABOUT…

Since we know that Grace trots up and down the fence line when any person approaches, you know she was just begging her previous owners to feed her.  That just kills me.  As Darla says:  “The heartbreaking thing is the way she follows you along the fence line, nickering. It breaks my heart. I know she did that there too. They just tuned it out I guess.”

It is heartbreaking, but that is all over with.  Time to move forward.

Day 1. How could her previous owners not feed her but feed the others??

UPCOMING TREATMENTS

I asked if Grace has any teeth and the answer is YES.  She is around 20 years old and her teeth need attention.  Dental care is on the list as well as worming when she is stronger.  They are starting to give her ulcer medicine to help with the havoc the parasites are creating in her gut – until they can worm her.  UGH.  She also will need some basic shots like tetanus.  Other than that, it will be watching her like a hawk through winter and feeding her often and very carefully, the Davis way.

As you can see, Grace is doing WELL!  She has gained some weight and her skin is clearing up thanks to THE BALM!  The kind people at Equi-Spa sent Grace some of THE BALM and their natural Fly Spray.  Evidently it is working miracles on her skin!  Here is what Darla says,

“Now the EquiSpa products?! OMG.  LOVEEEEE them.  The fly spray is incredible. And it smells so yummy I want to marinate in it. In fact, I did spray my legs the other day.  I have the salve all along Grace’s spine where it was cracked and bleeding, and on her hocks where she scuffs herself when she gets up and down.  NO flies. It’s awesome.”

Cool!  I love it when products work miracles!

Her skin looks so much better!

SHE IS LEAVING FEED IN  HER BOWL!

According to Darla, “She actually left a handful of feed in one of her tubs last night.  =)  She’s getting a full tummy for once!  YEAHH!! Grace is finally full!”

Grace is so awake and alert that she is now DEMANDING… ;)  Besides Grace’s several wet-mash meals per day, she is asking Darla for more, more, more!  Now, Darla has to break apart an alfalfa flake and spread it all around Grace’s pasture so that she will have something to do.  Ha!  Grace is showing the spirit that has helped her survive!

She's exploring and eating!

SADLY, SHE IS AFRAID OF OTHER HORSES

It appears that Grace cowers around other horses.  That leads her caretakers to believe that the other horses in her previous pasture must have run her off of the food.  (There were three other, in fine shape, horses at Grace’s previous owner’s house…)  Of course, Darla feeds Grace alone and keeps her alone.  But, even “through the safety of the fence” visits from other horses has brought Grace to fear.

However, there is a new boy at the rescue named Perry who is a real marshmallow.  They are hoping Grace and Perry can become “across the fence” buddies for now.

Grace is tentative about Perry but her likes her!

GRACE IS BECOMING FAMOUS!

Grace has a FaceBook page with over 1500 Fans already!  According to FB, her fans reach:

141    United Kingdom
72    Canada
46    Australia
12    South Africa
9    New Zealand
7    Germany
4
2    Netherlands
2    Ireland
1    Nigeria
1    Qatar
1    Romania
1    Japan
1    France
1    Bahrain
1    Switzerland
1    Spain
1    India

GRACE’S VIDEO

Here is a little video showing Grace trucking outside her pasture in a larger field.  It is great for her to stretch her muscles and work her body.

Click on image to see Grace move around in her world!

WHAT’S NEXT?

I will keep you posted… but really, it is just a “time will tell” game.  She will need her special diet for many, many months and she will need special attention for even longer.  This is why Grace is our Bucket Fund Girl for September.  Strawberry Mountains Mustangs needs support to carry on this good work…

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

THIS JUST IN FROM READERS WHO DONATED TODAY…

1)  A donation of an odd amount ($61) came in this morning, bright and early.  In my thank you note, I asked her why the odd amount…  Her reply:

But, I’d be wrong…  Tournament Jousting is actually ring jousting or ‘golden ring grab with a stick’ for you Merry-Go-Round enthusiasts.

I had no idea…!

Let’s begin with the basics.

THE BASICS

The idea of the game is to run your horse under 8 seconds, through the three arches and collect the three (tiny) rings with your stick which looks like a pool cue.  The rings are hanging steadfastly off of steel rods under each arch.  The ground should be flat but I hear there is no such thing as a truly flat course, especially when galloping towards a 1″ ring…  The rings are all 6’9″ off of the ground, so you might consider your size and the size of your horse when you attempt this.

There are several classes so that you can win at any level.  The rules are fair so no one cheats and everyone is fairly safe – as safe as anyone is on a galloping horse through circle arches.  And, you get prizes.

THE MOST FUN

As I looked through all the pages about ring jousting, I got a chuckle from the names of some of the Champions.  Obviously, some people really have fun with it.  You can pick any name you want and then emblazon it across your logo shirt.  Here are a few of my favs.

Maid of Milkpails, Knight of Bean’s Settlement, Knight of Needmore, Lady of Just for Fun, Knight of Possum Hollow, Knight of Little Red Wagon, Maid of Bet Your Booties, Knight of Old Fields, Knight of Mystery, Knight of Turkey Trot, Knight of Phil’s Signs, Knight of Little Stuff, and my personal favorite:  The Knight of Silvery Moon (don’t ya just want to skip when you hear that?).

OK, so one of the best parts for me, would be picking my Maid name.  Maid in the Shade?  Maid to Ordur,  Maid ju Look… I could go on forever!

WHAT I ALSO LIKE

What I also like is that there are more guys doing this than girls!!!  What type of horse event has that besides rodeo?  What a GREAT way to get Dad involved with the horses!

WHAT TYPE OF HORSE?

Well, according to the material, you can use any horse as long as they have an even canter and a level head.  Here is an excerpt from the ‘what kind of a horse?’ paragraph on the National Jousting Association website:

Misty and Comet, famous TWH jousters

“Experienced jousts on the circuit today concur on several desired characteristics: a level-headed, mid-size to small horse with an extremely smooth canter work best. A smooth gait allows riders to feel comfortable to raise their stirrups and assume a position similar to that of a jockey. This allows the motion of the horse to be absorbed by the riders’ knees and lower leg. The upper body becomes virtually motionless. This position, combined with a steady hand greatly increases the rider’s likelihood of spearing the rings with his lance.”

Stormy, the famous Shetland jouster

What I found very interesting were the famous jousting horses.  The most famous jousting horses are two Tennessee Walkers named Misty and Comet.  The Enfield family bought Misty so that the kids could learn to joust…  Well, you can probably see where this is going… Misty became INCREDIBLE at it and Dad took her over.  But, luckily, Misty birthed Comet who was also equally skilled.  It is said that Comet thundered down the alley without ever noticing any distractions.  He consistently put the riders directly under the rings.

Both horses were on the circuit from 1966 – 1986.  Sadly, Comet died of old age in 1996 and Misty soon followed.  However, during their reign of jousting supremacy, the Enfield family won many titles.  (Dad) Leon alone won four National Championships on Misty. Comet carried Leon’s son, Bob to a Maryland State Championship title. Son, Ken, and daughter, Linda, also competed on these two incredible jousting horses.  And what is interesting is that Misty stood only 14’2.  She was known for rapid starts and a very easy canter.  So, booyah for the TWH!  Who knew?!

Jasper, the famous Paint jouster who knew his Knight's name...

Another famous jousting horse is the Shetland, Stormy.  You see, kids have the same height requirement (6’9″) so there are no breaks for little ponies.  However, Stormy was so solid at the canter, her 8 year old rider won the Novice National Jousting Competition over 63 other riders including a 17 year old boy and a 63 year old man.  Ha!  so there for the little guys!

The last famous jousting horse I’m listing here is Jasper, a black and white Paint.  He was such a strong competitor, that he would listen for the announcer to call his owner’s Knight name (The Knight of Beauty) and would false start all the time.  So, his owner had to trick the horse into not listening to the announcer.  In any event, they won several National Championships together.

WHAT TO WEAR

Well, just about anything but not medieval garb.  The photos showed the same attire anyone would wear when riding.  I think it depends more upon your comfort level and the weather.

GEAR

The gear is whatever, as well.  However, I do see more people riding saddleseat type of english saddles.  I think the flat seats are easier to balance when you have your feet up like a jockey.  I don’t know for sure but I did see many high stirrups like the jockey and the polo player.  So, I would imagine you’d want a saddle that lets you stand securely — or as securely as possible when standing in a saddle on a galloping horse…

The jousting stick (called a LANCE) is shaped like a pool cue.  However, the weights vary quite a bit.  Women seem to like lightweight poles (1 -2 lbs) but they tend to sway in the wind.  Some men prefer lances as weighty as 12 – 15 lbs.  It is all preference.

KIDS

The kids have their own divisions which are not intimidating and keep them wanting more.  They have no time limits and can walk through the course.  They can even be on a lead-line in the tiny divisions.  Everyone gets a ribbon.  It isn’t until they move up that they have to ride above a walk in competition.

LEARNING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

If you live in the Maryland area, you are in luck!  It seems that most of the clubs are around there.  They have lessons and it all seems relatively inexpensive to join and play.  It also seems like a great family thing.  In all the photos you see families and picnics and dogs and you name it!

From my stand point, not only is this a fun family thing, but your horse can get a lot of desensitizing at these events.

FALDEROLL

I don’t even know how to spell that word.  Basically, what I mean is the fluff and pompenstance that happens during the ceremonies.

They still keep the medieval theme going up front.  I think some of the key players bring out their Knight suits for the opening ceremony.  But, that’s about it.  You don’t have to worry about women in boobilicous outfits, or men selling grog while gnawing on a turkey drumstick.  It feels like this sport is more about family fun with you and your horse.

NO CLUBS ON THE WEST COAST

I could find no clubs on the West Coast.  Sure, if you want to shoot off of your horse, take him to the O-K Corral or have a Civil War reenactment, CA is your place.  But, if you are wanting to Ring Joust, you’ll meet with tumbleweeds.  And, sadly, it takes two clubs to have a tournament so we need two to start around here.  But, for you folks back East, here is a link to the Ring Jousting Clubs.

NOW FOR A BIT OF THAT OTHER KIND OF JOUSTING

OK, well here is what IS on the West Coast.  Right here between LA and San Diego is a town called Romona.  There, in Romona, is the typical Jousting that we all think about when we hear the word.  Yup, here you have the chest thumping, stab your heart out kind of jousting.  I’ve added a video of their jousting tournament/playday.  Also, here is their website to learn from the master.

Click on image to watch the other kind of Jousting

For me, the Ring Jousting seems like a more equal opportunity sport since the whole family can do it, your horse doesn’t have to get his face ripped off during faux battle and no one gets their eye poked out… And, it seems a lot less serious than regular jousting, which I like.

On a philisophycal note, the Ring Joust does seems like a primal thing for mankind.  Maybe the fulfillment in ring joust comes from FINALLY being able to master our hunting instinct of eye to hand coordination.  Or, maybe we just like our toys… After all, we started the basic game at a very young age…

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

Well, actually, I hope that none of you ever get those days… but if you do, and if you are happening to have ONE OF THOSE DAYS today, I wanted to pass onto you what helped me today.

Through a roundabout way, I ended up on a website that brought me to two videos that lifted my spirits.

Here’s the story…

Lacey arrives at the rescue, blind and pregnant

A young mare named Lacey was rescued from neglect by Equine Outreach in Oregon in February of ’09.  She was young and totally blind.  I’m surmising that the neglect made her blind but that wasn’t stated.  In any event, she was young, neglected and blind when she arrived at the rescue.  Sad.

A few months later, after much love, care and a new pasture buddy to be her eyes, Lacey was tested positive for pregnancy.  Yup.  The previously neglected mare had been exposed to a stallion before she arrived.  Bummer.  However, she had made a friend and life was good.

Lacey with her new friend... life was good.

Luckily, by the time of his birth, Lacey was in excellent health and little Skylar was born perfectly on September 21, ’09.  The feisty colt was very gorgeous and he stood within 5 minutes.  Wow, great, eh?!  Momma and baby got along swimmingly, of course.  But, even more special, little Skylar seemed to know that his Momma was disabled and he looked after her.

As an aside to this story, quite by accident, Lacey’s original owner happened to come to Equine Outreach to volunteer.  On her first day there, she saw Lacey and knew Lacey had been her daughter’s horse.  The woman, Pat,  had no idea that when she sold Lacey to her forever home, Lacey would be neglected and blinded.  Pat was overcome with joy and grief.  You see, the reason they adopted out Lacey was because Lacey belonged to Pat’s daughter who had passed.  I’m sure you can imagine the emotion that came up around this horse and their mutual struggles…

Probably as therapy for them both, Pat came out often to walk with Lacey, ride her and then hang with her and the baby.

Handsome boy, Skylar...

But, all wasn’t to stay well in this story.  Tragically, on Thanksgiving, colic struck.  It was reported that Lacey was hit so severely that she went down almost instantly.  The vet was called but Lacey was already too far gone.  The members of Equine Outreach were devastated.  Pat was devastated.  Lacey had really won over all of their hearts… What were they going to do without Lacey?  And, most importantly, what were they going to do for poor little Skylar?

And then one of them had a brilliant but risky idea…  EO had taken in a mare who survived a trailer rollover.  The mare, Penny, had fully recovered from her broken ribs and was even willing to go into a trailer!  Oddly however, she was lactating off and on even though she had not had a foal in four years.  Hmmmmmm.  Could this work?  Could hope come out of tragedy?

The volunteers put Skylar, who had been crying nonstop, next to Penny.  He was very interested in this lactating mare and she was not totally against the idea…  After three days of them growing more close, everyone felt like it might be time to put them together.  And, it worked!  Not only did Penny accept Skylar and protect him, she let him nurse from her!

Wow.  What are the chances of that happening?  What are the chances of having a nurse mare on the premises who wasn’t nursing anyone else at the time?  I looked up the meaning of the name, Skylar and found this:  eternal life, strength, love and beauty.    Hmmmm.  Seems to fit the story, eh?  Eternal life to his dam Lacey, strength to survive without his mother, the love of all the volunteers around him and beauty because he is a looker!

So, without more ado, here is the link to the video that brought me out of my “one of those days” blues today.   Enjoy the happy ending!

Click on the image to watch the tribute video.

Here is a second, very cute video of Skylar and his new Momma, Penny.  This is very uplifting, too!

Click on the image to watch the second video of Skylar and Penny together!

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The August Bucket Fund will benefit the charity BHFER.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

August's Bucket Fund is Beauty's Haven Farm and Equine Rescue. Click here to learn their story and make any size, secure Pay Pal Donation. Easy and it means so much!

The problem with the vinyl is that it is expensive and it is tough to clean.  You have to either lug a bucket of soapy water around or have miles of hose and extension cords to use your pressure washer.  But even with the its expense and maintenance, honestly, I prefer vinyl over wood.  If I could, I’d wrap vinyl all around my place.

But, I don’t have vinyl here.  I have wood.  Three rail wood fencing with round posts.  For those of you in the “fencing know” you’ll understand when I say I also have 6′, no-climb wire fencing around the perimeter with wood posts every 8′.  If you are nodding your head right now, you will totally get the rest of this post.  Today, I’m writing about fence woes.

In my mind, fences work if you don’t do stoopid things.  To me, if there is a fence mishap, I need to stand and take note.  What did I do to make this happen?

Most often, it is some inane thing I decided to do that created the fencing issue.  I shudda known better.  For sure, immediately upon noticing the newly sad and shattered wood boards, I always do the, “Oy, why did I do that?!” stomp.

So, today, I decided to go around to all the broken and newly mended fences and explain to you how most of these were avoidable  – after the fact.

But first, let me begin with how I woke up this morning… this is how I got the idea for this post today.

OMG!

I went out, bleery eyed, to feed and saw THIS.

Something is not right with the bottom rail...

Yup.  Remi and Bodhi had decided to send me a message.  Since they cannot write a cute note and send it in a bottle launched my way, they carved it into the fence.  Oh joy.

A closer look at their handywork

This is totally my fault because I forgot.  I forgot that this is August and there is no more of anything to nibble on in their pasture.  I also forgot to install lunches during this barren late summer month… And, I forgot to give them their new salt block.

Yup.  I’ve been very neglectful.  I’m sure Remi and Bodhi were trying to tell me in their subtle ways.  I did notice them hanging around the fence more than grazing.  I did notice that they were exceptionally interested when I was near the hay barn.  I also noticed that I hadn’t moved the new salt blocks out of the barn and into where they belong — basically because they weigh 50lbs each.  But, instead of acknowledging what I was noticing, I blissfully ignored my farmer duty.

So, Remi and Bodhi stepped up their game.  They carved their needs like a huge SOS on a sandy beach.  WE NEED FOOD, MINERALS AND SOMETHING TO DO.

"What? I tried to tell you...!"

OK, I hear you.  Today, we put in the salt blocks, I have initiated lunch and also strung some new hotwire, just to break this new habit.

THE “THIS IS MYYYYY BUCKET, GET OUTTA HERE” FENCE BREAK

This one is pretty easy to detect.  This happens when two horses have a power struggle or if one horse is just too pushy.  Now, any owner that takes the time to observe during feeding time will notice who is in command and who is a bully.  Understanding this, the smart owner/feeder will put the buckets far enough apart to stave off any hostile takeover.  Or, the smart feeder person would make sure the bully/dominant horse is content to eat somewhere alone and the other horses can eat in peace.

Did I do that this week?  Uh, no.  I decided that my bully mare, Gwen, would stay on one side of the barn while I fed the other horses on the other side of the barn.  (I have recently put the lead mare in the barn to tend to her canker.  The lead mare keeps Gwen in line.)  I neglected to note that the lead mare was no longer keeping things status quo.  I needed to take caution and reassess the situation.  But, I didn’t.  And, of course Gwen had to make sure that no one else was getting more grain than she was so she pushed everyone away from their grain buckets… except Sam who decided she’d had enough.  They had a duel.  The fence lost.

Where the bucket was hanging before the war...

WHY DID YOU PUT THAT HORSE IN WITH US?

Again, my error.  I was moving horses around to find a good combination for when Iron Man arrives.  I put Wrigley (2 yr Morgan) and VB (tough little Icy) in with my TWH pair, Finn and BG.  I figured that they had been living across the fence from each other for 2 years, this should work out fine.  Since Wrigley is already taller than Finn, I kinda thought they’d work it out.

Wrigley, cornered, leapt into the other pasture. No one was hurt, thank goodness.

Ooops.  My bad.  Not only did Finn intimidate the larger youngster, but he also didn’t want Wrigley anywhere near his sister.  And, to make things even worse, I created a corner by cross fencing that particular pasture.

When I put them together, immediately Wrigley and Finn started arguing.  Wrigley got chased into the corner and again, the fence lost.

(Actually, I’m glad it was the fence and not Wrigley who got slammed.  Needless to say, I was able to stop the bruhaha about 3 minutes after opening the gates of hell.  It doesn’t take long for boards to crack…)

I HATE THAT I’M IN HERE AND YOU ARE OUT THERE

This is Finn’s doing, again.  I had him in the arena because that is his favorite place to be.  He will stand in there all day long and watch over the other horses.  It is the highest point on the farm.

But, what I didn’t think about was Slick.  I let Slick, the most precocious pony, out of his pasture to be free.

Slick’s main goal in life is to annoy others.  So, after grabbing a mouthful of grass, he ran over to the arena to taunt Finn.  The stinker pony stood right outside the barren arena and munched on green grass – just outside of Finn’s reach.

Finn was beside himself, of course.  I was inside working when I heard the undeniable CRACK of hoof against wood.

Finn inside, Pony outside, fence loses.

Darn it!  Now what did I do?  I looked out my window and saw the pony running like a maniac down the hill towards the driveway.  I look up towards the arena and see Finn running the fenceline like he was on fire.  And, of course, I see the down boards.  Great.  Why didn’t I put Finn back into his pasture before I let the pony out?  Hubby will be angry on this one…

QUIT BITING MY BUTT WHEN I’M IN THE BATHROOM

This fence has been fixed as you can tell by the blond wood.  (I never get around to painting the fence as quickly as I should…)  This is Finn and BG’s pasture which abuts Wrigley and VB’s pasture.

This repaired break is directly behind the bathroom area of the Tennessee Walking Horses’ pasture.  Evidently, Wrigley and VB like to taunt Finn and BG when they are trying to relieve themselves.  I actually saw Wrigley lean over and bite BG in the hiney.  How annoying!  Well, on this particular day, BG had had enough of Wrigley’s nuisance behavior and she kicked the bejeesus out of the fence.  She took down three rails…  You should have seen Wrigley run away!   You’d have thought he was being chased by a mountain lioness.  And, kinda, he was… BG was pissed.   I think her ears stayed pinned for at least an  hour!  ;)

No peace in the potty area...

THIS IS MY NEW WATERER!

OK, well, I fixed this board already but it was over the new waterer.  I put a new trough in their pasture to supplement the other trough.  Evidently, someone took ownership of the new trough and a battle ensued.

Already fixed, this was the site of the BATTLE OF TROUGH

The fence took it bad on this one.  And, instead of subjecting the fence to any more injury, I moved the new trough.

BITEY FACE

This is where they play biteyface over the fence.  Sometimes the game gets out of hand and someone gets hurt… usually the fence.

The "biteyface" game. The fence loses, again.

THE DELIVERY GUY SCARED ME

Oy.  I hate this one.  I cannot control when a sudden move or noise wakes up a sleeping horse whose first instinct upon being startled is to kick and run!  Yup, all of my mares doze in the front corner of the front pasture by the driveway.  Some of the older mares are losing their hearing somewhat.  And, since cars go up and down the road fairly regularly, they kinda tune it all out.

OOps.  Sometimes the cars decide to come up the driveway.  Sometimes those cars are big trucks with diesel engines that make a big BACKFIRE noise as they switch gears up the steep hill.  And, oops, sleeping mares hear the backfire, have a sudden freakout, kick and ruuuuuuuunnnnnnnn!

OOps, sorry, I kicked the fence and it kinda broke…

I kicked it and it kinda broke...

I’m leaving the fence “as is” for now.  A gentle reminder that the only fence issue that I couldn’t avoid, is the only fence board still standing.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The August Bucket Fund will benefit the charity BHFER.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

August's Bucket Fund is Beauty's Haven Farm and Equine Rescue. Click here to learn their story and make any size, secure Pay Pal Donation. Easy and it means so much!

Well, I guess they weren’t “tell-tale” since it was very obvious by the proliferation of dander and short hairs e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e…, but she is a harbinger because no one else is shedding just yet.

And, judging by her 1000lb lean into me as I was scratching her, I’m guessing this coat phoenix process is rather itchy for her.  Itchy and Sudden.  I swear I was just petting her yesterday and she didn’t do this.  But today, heck, she almost squashed me between her flank and the stall wall — it felt soooooo good.  That was actually the first hint.  Her “ooooooh” face.  I was absent mindedly scritching her rump when I noticed her neck arch and rise about 40 feet.  Hmmmmmmm.   I looked to her head as I was scritchy scratching and by the time I had looked back to my hand, I had a pile of dander and hair about an inch high.  Wow!  Too bad there isn’t a market for horse hair attire…  Too bad we cannot manufacture horse hair shirts and sweaters.

The "ooooooooh, that's the spot" neck extension, lip pucker face

Actually, that’s not true.  I make horse hair sweaters, inadvertently, every Spring and Fall.  All I have to do is wear a shirt out to the barn and groom someone.  By the time I get back to the house, I have a horse hair shirt!  It’s easy.  You could do it at home, too!

Anyway, back to my mare, the harbinger of Winter…

So, watching her summer coat jump from its follicles onto the barn floor, I started to wonder why she decided to shed her lighter frock when it was over 100F this week?  How come none of the other horses are following suit – literally.

The Summer coat exodus begins

But first, I went around to all the horses and started pulling on their coats to test the shed factor.  Most of them just gave me a dirty look but I did notice that my Harbinger mare’s young son, Wrigley, was also starting to shed.  Hmmmmm.  So, I went to Harbinger’s first, much older daughter, Gwen, to see if she was shedding.  Nope.  Double Hmmmmmm.  So much for it being genetic…

MY ONLINE QUEST

Interestingly, there wasn’t a whole lot of information on equine coats or the shedding process other than what tools to use to expedite the process and the basics of a healthy coat.  In fact, most articles that related to equine dermis or hair all pointed back to one specific book (Equine dermatology – Danny W. Scott, William Howard Miller – 2003).  And even that book, which seems to be the medical reference book for most articles, states, “Obviously, the details of the regulation of hair follicle cycling and growth are extraordinarily complex and poorly understood.”  Great.

With a close up view, you can see her winter coat coming in as the summer coat sheds... although you don't really notice when just looking at her.

There’s a thesis topic for all you vet grad students…  Someone, please study the equine hair coats!

Actually, someone did do a study related to this…

THE STUDY RELATED TO THIS

I found a paper written about the weight of equine hair in the JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENCE (copyright 2006).  It was pretty fascinating, for me anyway, about how they measured heat loss in horses through infrared thermography during the winter months.  In that article, they had a table which showed the weight of hairs of Light, Warmblood, Coldblood horses and Ponies.

I think it is interesting that not all horses have the same hair coat.  Of course, this is obvious to the naked eye, but it is also nice to see it in print.  However, they didn’t say that a light horse needs different blanketing than a horse with a more dense coat… in fact, they said most all hair coats are efficient, no matter the different in density.

Study on equine hair weight per breeds during certain months

SHEDDING EXPLAINED

Shedding starts when the light changes.  In other words, when the days become shorter.  However, shedding can also be triggered by a cold snap or a cold night.  Now, there was maybe one cold night last week here.  So, if this is the science, I would say that my mare, who is the lead mare, is in the correct position because it is clear that she is the only one who noticed the colder evening.  And, her baby is just following suit, I think.  (Her eldest, teenage daughter never listens to anyone anyway so it follows that she wouldn’t be shedding.)

HAIR COATS AND WHY THEY WORK

I did find out a bit about the winter coat.  The hair coat regulates body temperature by hair length, thickness, and density.  Now, you’ve all seen how your horse’s coat looks puffier in winter, same as your cat.    Well, there is a muscle associated with every hair follicle that pulls the hair to a standing “puffed-up” position (piloerection). The process of piloerection increases the air content within the hair coat which insulates the skin. It’s like putting on a down vest.

There is a primary winter coat known as the outer or “guard” coat which is the longer hairs, and a secondary coat known as the inner coat.  The piloerection happens between these layers.  It has been reported that there are approximately 800-1,200 primary hairs and from 1,200-2,000 secondary hairs per square inch of skin in the horse.  This is why it is so easy to create several hair coat shirts in Fall…

Wrigley's different hair coat colors as he sheds out

The summer coat is sometimes called fur, which I don’t understand because it sheds… But anyway, the summer coat is always under the winter coats that shed in Spring.  This summer coat is often darker than the winter hairs and is shorter in length.  It is described as fine, soft wool.

THE EVIL SHED

Horses shed their coats every Spring and Fall.  What is odd about this is that ancient and undomesticated (shaggy) breeds only shed once a year between March and May… but, we have messed with Mother Nature a bit and now most horse breeds shed twice a year.

OK, now to the shedding process.  Hair does not grow continuously, but in cycles. There is a growing cycle (called the anagen phase), when the follicle is actively growing a hair, and a resting cycle (called the telogen phase), when the produced hair is retained within the follicle during the cycle, but is actually a dead hair and will subsequently be lost or shed. There is also a transition phase between the growth and resting cycles.

As I continue to rub my mare, I create a huge pile of dander and hair.

The shed usually starts on the neck, legs and rump.  (I find this tidbit interesting because my donkey’s legs are the last to shed.  Odd.)

The winter coat lasts from September to May.  The Summer coat from June to August.

SHEDDING IS DIFFERENT THAN UNIQUE COATS

Shedding is not to be confused with different coats.  During most horses lives, they will have between 4 and 5 individual and distinct coats.  They will have a birth coat which leaves to become a foal coat which leaves to become a yearling coat which leaves to become an adult summer coat which leaves to become an adult winter coat.  Those are the 4 – 5 coats.  (Some horses do not have a distinct foal and yearling coat however ancient and undomesticated breeds will.)

BLANKETING

Even though horses may look like they have a lighter coat than another horse, most healthy horses do not need to be blanketed unless the temperature reaches 18 F.  However, if your horse is compromised, let your vet help you decide.

But, I couldn't raise much on her shoulder... yet.

It is suggested that you must be very careful if you blanket in the winter.  Blanketing will change the natural hair growth.  So, your horse will not have his natural defenses without his natural coat.  The blanket can also create overheating.  And, we all know that blankets can hide issues such as sores, injuries and loss of weight.  So, if you use winter blankets, be sure to check often and adjust where necessary.  Be very careful if you remove the blanket during the daytime or evening.  Check the outside temperature even if there is sunshine.  Once you blanket a horse during his hair growth cycle, he will not grow a coat if you remove the blanket during that season.  You need to be careful as the blanketing process will disable the horse’s natural ability to grow a winter coat and renders him defenseless against colder temperatures.

RAIN

Rain is trouble for a horse if it is also freezing out.  A blanket, unless it is a rain proof blanket, will not help and it could hurt.  The horse has to be able to keep his belly and underside dry or he will freeze.  This is why a herd of horses will huddle in the rain.

IN CONCLUSION

That "OOOOOOOOOOOh" face!

The equine hair coat and shedding process is not well understood.  But, today, I finally understand why my mare has clumpy, soft downy dander all over her booty.   She realized that is was cold one night last week.  Her body knows that September is right around the corner and she wants to be the first one in the barn with the Fall Fashion Forward coat.  So, she is shedding her shorter, soft Summer coat for the double “downy” coat of winter.  This process is itchy and therefore there will be a lot of rubbing going on which creates hairy remnants on stall walls, fence posts and gates.

And the best part?  Finding that “sweet spot” on your shedding horse so you can force him into the “ooooooohhhhh” face.  Ha!  Blackmail photos for life!

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The August Bucket Fund will benefit the charity BHFER.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

August's Bucket Fund is Beauty's Haven Farm and Equine Rescue. Click here to learn their story and make any size, secure Pay Pal Donation. Easy and it means so much!